Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Tidal Power: River Severn

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reconsider the proposal for building a Severn Barrage to generate electricity from a renewable source; and what plans they have to discuss this with the Welsh Government.

Lord Callanan: The Government remains open to considering well-developed proposals for tidal range projects in British bays and estuaries, provided that such proposals can demonstrate energy system benefits, plausible environmental impact mitigation strategies, and value for money in the context of other forms of low carbon generation. The Government engages regularly with the Welsh Government on matters of common interest.

Energy: Imports

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce the UK’s dependence on non-domestic energy resources.

Lord Callanan: The crisis in Ukraine and the UK’s exposure to high global gas prices show the importance of the Government’s plan for a strong home-grown low-carbon economy to strengthen energy security into the future. The Government plans to reduce reliance on fossil fuels as the engine of the UK economy and make the transition to low carbon energy. This includes ambitious plans to support the deployment of low carbon and renewable technologies such as offshore wind, nuclear and hydrogen, which will contribute to decarbonising the UK’s power, heat and transport sectors. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear his intention to publish an Energy Security Strategy, setting out how the UK will make the transition to a home-grown clean energy future and end reliance on Russian oil.

Department of Health and Social Care

Protective Clothing: China

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Kamall on 22 February (HL6027), how much was spent on the 24.1 billion items of Personal Protective Equipment where China is recorded as the country of origin.

Lord Kamall: The Department estimates the total cost of the 24.1 billion items to be £10.9 billion.

Palliative Care: Travellers

Baroness Whitaker: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations identified by the National Institute for Health Research in its article A highly personalised approach to end of life care is needed to help Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities, published on 17 December 2021; and what plans they have to implement them.

Lord Kamall: While no formal assessment has been made, we agree with these recommendations on the importance of personalised care and healthcare professionals having discussions with individuals and families on their needs and preferences. The NHS Long Term Plan set out ambitions to improve personalised end of life care, including improving equity of access to services for all under-served populations. NHS England and NHS Improvement’s palliative and end of life care strategic clinical networks work with local systems to support the delivery of this priority, including efforts to reduce health inequalities.Care committed to me: Delivering high quality, personalised palliative and end of life care for Gypsies and Travellers, LGBT people and people experiencing homelessness. A resource for commissioners, service providers and health, care and support staff was published in 2018. This resource was produced for commissioners, providers, healthcare professionals and support staff to offer practical guidance on effective approaches to support personalised palliative and end of life care for these communities. A copy is attached.Care committed to me (pdf, 2416.9KB)

Drugs

Lord Framlingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what links there are (1) legally, (2) administratively, and (3) financially, between the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and pharmaceutical companies.

Lord Kamall: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an independent regulator working on a nominal fee for licence applications and regulating the industry. The MHRA is funded predominantly by income from fees for both statutory and non-statutory sales of products and services, which includes working with pharmaceutical companies.As civil servants, all staff are committed to the core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. Additionally, staff are not permitted to have any personal financial connections to pharmaceutical companies or medical device manufacturers.

Coronavirus: Prescription Drugs

Baroness Rawlings: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Kamall on 15 March (HL6625), why antiviral treatments for COVID-19 can only be prescribed by a clinician within a COVID Medicine Delivery Unit and cannot be prescribed by private physicians.

Lord Kamall: The supply of COVID-19 oral antivirals is not yet commercially available, with the current United Kingdom stocks held by the Government. As there is no commercial supply of antivirals, private physicians are not able to prescribe antivirals to non-hospitalised patients.

Dementia

Lord Goodlad: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the NHS will spend on research into the (1) causes, and (2) treatment, of dementia in each of the next five years.

Lord Kamall: The Government will invest at least £375 million in neurodegenerative disease research over the next five years to fund projects into a range of diseases, including the causes of and treatments for dementia. The National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation rely on researchers submitting high-quality applications to access funding. Therefore, details of allocations and timescales are not currently available. All applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Protective Clothing: Public Transport

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the public health benefits of wearing a face mask on public transport.

Lord Kamall: Face coverings are effective at reducing transmission in enclosed and crowded spaces, such as public transport and can reduce the risk of spreading infection when covering the nose and mouth. The UK Health Security Agency’s research suggested that all types of face coverings were effective in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Additionally, the Scientific Advice Group for Emergencies found that face coverings are likely to reduce transmission through all routes, by partially reducing emissions of and/or exposures to the full range of aerosol and droplets which carry the virus.

Kidney Diseases: Coronavirus

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government when people with chronic kidney disease will receive guidance regarding how they are to be supported and protected from COVID-19; and whether this guidance will be published.

Lord Kamall: On 25 February 2022, updated public health advice was issued in an online only format for people previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), including those with chronic kidney disease. Most people identified as CEV are now well protected following primary and booster vaccination doses and are no longer at substantially greater risk than the general population. They are advised to follow general guidance on preventing the risk of infection in additional to any further advice from their doctor. It is recommended that anyone with underlying health conditions takes care to avoid routine coughs, colds and other respiratory viruses. Online guidance was also issued for those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. This advises these patients to ensure received all vaccinations they are eligible to receive, including the booster dose and continue to follow any condition-specific advice provided by their specialist. It also suggests continuing to wear a face covering in public spaces, practicing social distancing and reducing the amount of time spent in enclosed areas. Individuals could work from home if appropriate or speak to their employer on arrangements to reduce their risk. The guidance also suggest ventilation within the home, regular handwashing and considering asking friends to take a lateral flow device test before visiting and/or a face covering. Enhanced protections such as those offered by treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions may also benefit this cohort.

Health Services and Social Services: Staff

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government which sectors have been consulted as part of (1) the Health Education England's review of long-term strategic trends for the health and social care workforce, and (2) the upcoming NHS England strategy.

Lord Kamall: In July 2021, the Department commissioned Health Education England (HEE) to with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Skills for Care and stakeholders in the health and social care sectors to develop a long term strategic framework for health and social care workforce planning. Engagement has taken place with senior leaders, frontline staff, the future workforce, academics, think tanks, charities, trade unions, those who receive and care and support and their representatives.A call for evidence took place in autumn 2021. which elicited 322 responses. Over half of responses were from individuals, which included members of the health and social care workforce, people who need and receive care and support and interested individuals. The remaining responses were received from organisations, including trade unions, charities, professional bodies and Royal Colleges. HEE has held three large-scale events to support the development of the framework, engaging over 200 senior leaders and professionals in the health and social care system, as well as people who need and receive care and their representatives.The Department has recently commissioned NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a workforce strategy. Further information on the strategy and its conclusions will be available in due course.

Coronavirus: Surveys

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Office for National Statistics' COVID-19 infection survey, and of its continuing utility.

Lord Kamall: The Government will continue monitoring the virus through maintaining surveillance studies such as the Office for National Statistics’ COVID-19 infection survey and other data sources, including genomic sequencing. The Government will keep all surveillance activities under review.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Standards

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the NHS Standard Contract 2022/23, when the data relating to the 12 hour standard for maximum waits from the time of arrival in Emergency Departments will be published.

Lord Kamall: NHS England and NHS Improvement publish the number of patients spending more than 12 hours in accident and emergency (A&E) from the time of arrival in the annual summary report of hospital accident and emergency activity. In 2020/21, 302,784 patients spent over 12 hours in A&E from arrival.The NHS Standard Contract for 2022/23 includes a 12-hour standard from time of arrival as a national quality indicator. NHS England is currently considering when data against this standard can be published and expects to confirm in due course.

Oral Tobacco: Health Hazards

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Kamall on 15 November (HL3287) which stated that “snus products contain significantly lower levels of harmful carcinogens than other smokeless tobacco product”, whether they will publish a table showing the carcinogen levels for (1) snus, and (2) other smokeless products; and what assessment they have made of restricting these other smokeless products.

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the study in the European Journal of Epidemiology The Burden of Mortality from smoking: comparing Sweden with other countries in the European Union, published in 2004, which found a lower mortality rate in Sweden following a switch from smoking to snus; and whether they will explain why snus is banned in the UK.

Lord Kamall: The Department does not hold data showing the carcinogen levels of snus or other smokeless tobacco products. The Department is exploring a range of regulatory options as part of the development of the new Tobacco Control Plan. This includes further regulation on the most harmful tobacco products such as those smokeless tobacco products currently available in the UK. No assessment has been made of the study in the European Journal of Epidemiology. Snus is banned in the UK and we have no plans to introduce additional tobacco products to the UK market. Alternative tobacco-free products already exist, such as nicotine pouches.

Department for Education

Hallam Diocese: Academies

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to issue an apology to the governing bodies of 19 schools in the Catholic Diocese of Hallam which were sent academy orders, without valid academy applications being sent to the Department for Education from those governing bodies.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what explanation has been provided to the Regional Schools Commissioner as to why academy orders were sent to 19 schools in the Catholic Diocese of Hallam, without the governing bodies of those schools sending valid academy applications to the Department for Education.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that academy orders are not sent to any schools without a valid academy application first being sent from governing bodies of schools to the Department for Education.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue renewed guidance on the requirement for the governing body of a school to meet and pass a resolution prior to an academy application being made.

Baroness Barran: On 2 March 2022 the East Midlands and the Humber Regional Schools Commissioner wrote to the Catholic Hallam schools informing them that the December 2021 Academy Orders that were issued to the 19 Voluntary Aided schools in the Diocese of Hallam had been withdrawn. A further letter was issued on 7 March 2022 advising them that any future Academy Orders issued would be following the confirmation that the governing body had passed a resolution to convert to academy status. The government does not consider an apology to be necessary given the explanations given.On 8 March 2022 the National Schools Commissioner, Dominic Herrington, issued correspondence to regional delivery officials in the department advising them of the legal steps that must be taken when processing applications for Academy Orders. The relevant guidance was also attached as a reminder of the correct process. We do not consider it necessary to issue renewed guidance.

Children: Ukraine

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support refugeechildren from Ukraine and accommodate them within the education system.

Baroness Barran: The department is working across government, and with charities and local authorities to ensure refugees from Ukraine are properly supported so they can rebuild their lives. The department is preparing to make sure school-aged children who resettle from Ukraine can get into schools and will set out more details when available.To support schools’ efforts, Oak National Academy have rolled out an auto-translate function across all 10,000 of its online lessons, meaning Ukrainian children can access education in their native language.All Ukrainian 16 to 19 year olds given right to reside in UK are automatically eligible for 16-19 funding. Those with right to reside may also be able to access bursary support via a provider if they meet the other criteria and can be assessed by the provider as having direct participation costs they need help with.

Social Services: Children

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to measure progress towards the restoration of disabled children’s social care services to pre-pandemic levels.

Baroness Barran: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Children and Families, on 28 February 2022 to Question 125599.

Adoption: Pupil Premium

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the report by Adoption UK From Both Sides, published on 3 March; and in particular the recommendation that advice and guidance for schools on Pupil Premium should clearly differentiate between the purpose and effective use of Ever-6 Pupil Premium and Pupil Premium Plus.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the report by Adoption UK From Both Sides, published on 3 March; and in particular the recommendation that school leaders, including governing bodies, should receive training and information on the purpose and effective use of Pupil Premium Plus, including how it fits into the school’s wider Pupil Premium strategy.

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for Regional Adoption Agency leaders to be able to effectively “understand and keep under review what support and use of pupil premium plus has the biggest impact on adoptive children’s outcomes”, as set out in their Adoption strategy: achieving excellence everywhere, published on 26 July 2021.

Baroness Barran: The department’s guidance is clear that the purpose of pupil premium funding is to improve education outcomes for disadvantaged pupils in schools in England. However, the specific needs and challenges of each eligible cohort are likely to be different.Pupil premium is not a personal budget. School leaders, in collaboration with relevant parties, are best placed to decide how to use the funding across their school to support the needs of all eligible pupils, although interventions should be evidence based and in the best interests of the child.Statutory guidance for designated teachers explains that pupil premium plus funding for looked-after and previously looked-after children is additional funding provided to help close the attainment gap between this group and their peers. Whilst there will be some overlap with the needs of children who attract pupil premium, looked-after and previously looked-after children’s needs can be very different, and the extra funding reflects the additional barriers that this group face. The guidance includes information on the effective use of pupil premium plus to address the specific needs of looked-after and previously looked-after children. Further information on this guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/designated-teacher-for-looked-after-children.The department’s ‘Using Pupil Premium’ guidance supports school leaders to use their funding effectively and explains that schools must ensure they consider the specific needs of previously looked-after children. Schools can also draw on expert support and advice from Virtual School Heads, many of whom offer direct training for designated teachers. Further information on this guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pupil-premium-effective-use-and-accountability.The department’s national adoption strategy sets out our aims and ambitions to drive improvements across all adoption agencies in England. Regional Adoption Agency leaders are uniquely placed to understand and review the impact of pupil premium plus due to their strong working relationships with virtual school heads as well as their ongoing work directly with adopters. This will allow them to feed back to ensure schools are considering the best use of pupil premium plus funding to drive improvements for children.

Students: Ukraine

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for universities in England (1) providing accommodation, and (2) waiving fees, for Ukrainian students who have fled that country.

Baroness Barran: Alongside our allies, we are united in support for Ukraine. The department has been working closely with the education sector and across government more widely to ensure that Ukrainian students are supported during this difficult time.The government is considering how best to support these students in continuing their education. This includes new visa concessions from the Home Office for Ukrainian nationals, including students, that will provide them with an opportunity to extend their leave, or switch to a Graduate route visa without having to leave the country.The Homes for Ukraine scheme has now been launched. The scheme opened on Friday 18 March 2022 for visa applications from Ukrainians and immediate family members who already have named people willing to sponsor them.We continue to encourage higher education (HE) providers to use hardship funding to support students from Ukraine where they are facing challenges, to ensure support is given where it is most needed.To allow flexibility in dealing with the circumstances of individual applicants, HE providers have the discretion to waive or reduce fees where they consider it appropriate to do so.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners: Females

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many incidents of physical restraint took place in the female prison estate on women aged (1) 18 to 24, and (2) 25 years or older, in each year since 2018.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The requested data on use of force incidents is available for the 12 month periods ending March 2019 to March 2021. This is detailed in the attached Excel spreadsheet. Every use of physical force is reviewed, and prison officers receive appropriate training to ensure that it is only used when necessary, reasonable and proportionate.HL6864_table (xlsx, 18.0KB)

Prisons: Telephones

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of cells in (1) the female prison estate, and (2) the male prison estate, have in-cell telephony; and what proportion of cells in each prison have that facility.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: I refer the right reverend Prelate to the answer given to PQ HL5474 on 1 February 2022 and HL5473 on 1 February 2022.

Prisoners: Females

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women aged (1) 18 to 24, and (2) 25 years or older, are currently held in each female prison establishment.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: These figures are routinely published as part of the OMSQ Prison Population Data Tool (published as part of Offender Management Statistics Quarterly): https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly.As of 31 December 2021 (latest available published data), the population of each female prison, split by requested age categories, was as follows:Prison Name18-2425+TotalASKHAM GRANGE37982BRONZEFIELD62411473DOWNVIEW26215241DRAKE HALL18274292EAST SUTTON PARK56267EASTWOOD PARK30318348FOSTON HALL23226249LOW NEWTON21218239NEW HALL34299333PETERBOROUGH FEMALE42282324SEND9180189STYAL41333374Total3142,8973,211

Prisoners: Females

The Lord Bishop of Gloucester: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Wolfson of Tredegar on 2 February (HL5530) concerning the average distance from home for prisoners in female and male prisons, what is the reason for the discrepancy between the figures provided and the figure in table 5.1a of the Female Offender Strategy supporting data tables.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The reason for the difference between figures provided in the response to HL5530 and table 5.1a of the Female Offender Strategy supporting data tables is a change in methodology. The figures provided in table 5.1a were calculated using travelling distance (i.e. the distance of a road journey between 2 destinations). From 2019, the methodology used to extract information on prisoners’ distance from home changed to the straight-line distance approach used in the answer to HL5530 and other similar questions. Straight-line modelling is the most consistent calculation method. Attempts to model based on travelling distance are subject to significant temporal and geographical variation (e.g. inner city travel time).

Child Contact Centres

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding theyare giving to the National Association of Child Contact Centres; and whether the grant will be for a (1) two year, or (2) three year, period.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: Whilst the Government has no overall responsibility for funding child contact centre provision, we are supportive of the work of the National Association of Child Contact Centres (NACCC) and have provided grant funding since 2013. The formal process of awarding any grant to NACCC from April 2022 has not yet been completed, so we are unable to confirm the amount and period for any future grant.

Prison Sentences

Lord Blunkett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many recalls of those with an Imprisonment for Public Protection sentence have subsequently resulted in (1) no further action taken, (2) charges dropped, and (3) the individual being found not guilty.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: This information is not readily available. To answer the question, a manual check would be needed of each instance of an offender serving an imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentence on licence being recalled to custody, where the reason given includes further charges (approximately 1,900). This could be completed only at disproportionate cost.An offender on an IPP licence is recalled to custody where they breach their licence conditions in a way which indicates escalating risk, such that the supervising officer determines that they can no longer be safely managed in the community.

Domestic Abuse

Baroness McIntosh of Pickering: To ask Her Majesty's Government, what progress they have made in developing a report about the extent to which individuals are protected from domestic abuse when using contact centres in England, as set out in section 83 of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The Government is on track to publish a report about the extent to which individuals, when they are using contact centres in England, are protected from the risk of domestic abuse or, in the case of children, other harm. This will be delivered by April 2023 as set out in section 83 of the Domestic Abuse Act.

Community Orders

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many hours of unpaid work have been completed as part of Community Sentences in each of the last five years.

Lord Wolfson of Tredegar: The number of UPW hours delivered in the last five years are:April 2016 to March 2017: 5,582,445April 2017 to March 2018: 5,382,173April 2018 to March 2019: 5,310,526April 2019 to March 2020: 4,868,990April 2020 to March 2021: 1,356,061The figures for April 2020 – March 2021 evidence a decline in unpaid work delivery resulting from the pandemic and the need to comply with public health regulations, such as lockdowns and social distancing measures.Prior to 26th June 2021, Community Rehabilitation Companies were responsible for the delivery of unpaid work. Since then, the new unified probation service has assumed responsibility for unpaid work delivery. This has provided an opportunity to re-energise our work, drive up completion rates and deliver better outcomes. We will deliver better quality and more robust unpaid work placements that are highly visible to the public and that meet both punitive and reparative aims. We want to move away from a reliance on individual placements towards incorporating larger national projects with public bodies and charities and we are keen to involve our stakeholders as much as possible in our plans.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Remote Working

Lord Watts: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff are working from home; and what proportion of the department this represents.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The FCDO does not collect information on the number of our staff working from home.

Armenia: Azerbaijan

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledonon 7 March (HL6312), what attempts they have made to document the destruction of Armenian historical sites in Azerbaijan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The protection of cultural heritage affected by conflict and the prevention of acts of destruction are priorities for the UK. We are aware of allegations from both Armenia and Azerbaijan that cultural and religious sites have been deliberately damaged over the course of the conflict. Following the 2020 war, the UK has engaged with the Governments of both Armenia and Azerbaijan on this matter. UNESCO are the body best placed to look into this issue and we call on all sides to reach an agreement to enable UNESCO to visit the region soon.

Russia: Sanctions

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to impose sanctions on (1) states other than Russia, and (2) individuals other than Russians, in order to close loopholesto the effectiveness of sanctions against (a) Russia, and (b) Russians.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: UK sanctions also apply to Belarussian individuals and organisations that have supported the Russian invasion, including sanctions on President Lukashenko and 117 other individuals and entities, as well as trade, financial and aviation sanctions. The Lukashenko regime will be made to feel the economic consequences for its support for Putin. We are delivering the largest package of sanctions in our history, implementing this in partnership with our allies to cut off funding for Putin's war machine.

Russia: Oil

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to review their decision to allow oil from Russia to enter the UK for the remainder of 2022, and (2) to implement an earlier ban.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK will phase out imports of Russian oil through the course of 2022. It is important that we give ourselves enough time to adjust our supply chains. This comes on top of the largest and most severe sanctions package the UK has ever imposed, which is already impacting President Putin and the Russian economy.

BBC World Service: Finance

Lord Storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what funding they provide directly to support the BBC World Service.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We strongly value the work of the BBC World Service and its independent and impartial broadcasting. In 2021-22, the FCDO is providing a total of £94.4 million to the World Service. The FCDO is committed to providing funding for the BBC World Service through to 2025, with final allocations to be confirmed after the conclusion of the FCDO business planning process.

Armenia: Azerbaijan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the reported remarks of President Aliyev of Azerbaijan that the Nagorno-Karabakh region does not exist and it should not be called as such, and (2) the implications of these remarks for the Armenian population in the region.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: There remain a number of outstanding issues related to or resulting from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict which require comprehensive solutions. We are keen to see these outstanding matters settled quickly to ensure peace and security across the region. We continue to urge the sides to refrain from rhetoric that might exacerbate tensions.

Nagorno Karabakh: Humanitarian Situation

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, following the cutting of the gas supplyto the region.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is aware of reports of disruption to gas supplies to the region and the impact this is having on civilians. Supplies should be restarted without any further delay. We continue to urge the parties to settle all matters through substantive negotiations without preconditions.

Nagorno Karabakh

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, following the reporting targeting of villages in thearea on the border with Azerbaijan.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is concerned by reports of recent ceasefire violations between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces and deeply regrets the loss of life. We continue to monitor the situation closely. In our contacts with both governments we continue to stress the need for substantive talks and the importance of a comprehensive peace agreement.

Ukraine: Family Planning and Maternity Services

Baroness Northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to support (1) maternal health, and (2) family planning provision, for (a) those in Ukraine, and (b) those who are now refugees, in light of Russia's invasion of that country.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has now committed £395 million in aid to the current crisis. This includes £220 million of humanitarian assistance which will be used to save lives, and protect vulnerable people inside Ukraine and in neighbouring countries. This funding will help aid agencies respond to the deteriorating humanitarian situation by providing access to basic necessities and medical supplies. UK Government humanitarian experts have also deployed to the region to support those fleeing the violence in Ukraine. The UK has matched pound for pound the public's first £25 million for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, which has now surpassed £130 million. Donating will help DEC charities provide food, water, shelter and healthcare to refugees and displaced families.To date, we have contributed £3.5 million to provide medical supplies to Ukraine. Five commercial flights with supplies have been sent plus a further shipment on a military flight. We are preparing another five flights over the next week and we are working with Department of Health and Social Care and Devolved Administrations to identify and prepare supplies which meet the most pressing needs with a focus on pharmaceuticals.

Food Supply

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the war in Ukraine on (1) global food supplies, and (2) food prices; and what steps they are taking, together with international partners, to mitigate global food insecurity.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The crisis in Ukraine has increased food prices and risks exacerbating high food insecurity in vulnerable countries. Countries immediately affected are those most dependent on food and fertiliser imports from Ukraine and Russia, in particular those that may not have sufficient options for substitution in the short term and have weak public finances. The UK is monitoring developments closely and is encouraging the relevant multilateral institutions to prioritise rapid information, analysis, and response options. We are working with G7 partners to consider policy and programming response that mitigates the risk of an extended global food price crisis and protects food security. This included the agreement on 11 March by G7 Agricultural Ministers to call on all countries to keep their food and agricultural markets open.

Nigeria: Humanitarian Aid and Security

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking in response to the humanitarian and security situation in Nigeria.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK Government is committed to working with Nigeria to respond to the causes and consequences of conflict in Nigeria. At our recent Security and Defence Dialogue, we committed to work together to respond to shared threats, support efforts to respond to rising insecurity in Nigeria, and to promote human rights for all Nigerians. During the Dialogue the Minister for Africa discussed insecurity with National Security Advisor Monguno. In addition, during her recent visit to Nigeria, she held detailed discussions with regional governors and community and religious leaders about the deteriorating security situation across the country and how the UK Government can support the response.In North East Nigeria, we have provided £425 million of humanitarian support since 2017, which has supported up to 1.5 million people. Through our regional Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) Lake Chad Basin programme we are also: working with the Nigerian military in support of efforts to respond to the conflict with terrorist groups; supporting stabilisation efforts with local communities; and supporting wider security sector reform. In addition to our work in the North-East, we are also working with communities in the Middle-Belt to help better respond to and manage the effects of violent conflict including supporting the reintegration of victims of conflict and survivors of sexual violence. We continue to make clear to the Nigerian authorities, at the highest levels, the importance of protecting civilians and taking action to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence.

Ministry of Defence

Veterans: Identity Cards

Lord West of Spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current timetable for phase 2 of the rollout of Veteran’s ID Cards to all veterans who left the armed forces before 2018.

Baroness Goldie: The Veterans’ Recognition Scheme has a two-phase rollout. Phase one is complete, with Service leavers receiving a HM Armed Forces Veterans’ Recognition Card as part of the discharge process; since December 2018, over 45,000 such Cards have been issued to Service leavers. Phase two will extend the scheme to existing veterans so they can more quickly, easily and securely prove they served in the UK Armed Forces. In the Veterans' Strategy Action Plan (2022-2024), the Government committed to exploring the secure, digital verification of veterans’ status. This work is now complete, and the Ministry of Defence and Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to work with veterans and other stakeholders to develop a future-proof product, ensuring that Recognition Cards are given only to those with verified service, guarding against fraudulent use as a wider range of benefits become accessible. The Government remains committed to delivering Veterans’ Recognition Cards and will advise of a timescale for final delivery when this work is complete. Veterans do not require a Recognition Card to prove their status or to access veteran-related services or discounts. Veteran status can be verified by the veteran themselves or any veterans' service by contacting Veterans UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterans-uk

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Department for Work and Pensions will fulfil their commitment to publish the evaluation strategy for the managed migration pilot; and when they will publish (1) the evaluation of the managed migration pilot, and (2) the Equality Impact Assessments of managed migration plans.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Harrogate pilot was suspended as the Department focused on delivering its part of the Government’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An announcement on our latest Move to Universal Credit plans will be made in due course.

Universal Credit

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there will be any further piloting of managed migration before it is rolled out.

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will begin the roll-out of managed migration.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The department will make an announcement in due course on Move to Universal Credit.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Soil

The Earl of Caithness: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to announce further plans to improve soil quality and structure in England.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: A Soil Health Action Plan for England (SHAPE) is currently being developed. Stakeholder engagement on the outline of SHAPE is planned for this spring ahead of publication, which is anticipated for 2023. As part of the Soil Structure Measuring and Monitoring Scheme, methodology and guidance for arable and grassland soils is being developed and will be tested with practitioners this spring.

Home Office

Home Office: Remote Working

Lord Watts: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manyHome Office staff are working from home; and what proportion of the department this represents.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Throughout the pandemic, all Civil Service employers have followed Government guidance in setting out their internal COVID-19 related policies. This includes complying with the Working Safely during Coronavirus: Guidance which sets out the key actions organisations should take to protect employees and customers in order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading in workplaces, along with carrying out health and safety risk assessments that include the ongoing risk from COVID-19.On 21 February 2022, the Government published their 'Covid-19 Response: Living with Covid-19' This document sets out how and when the remaining restrictions will be lifted in England. Government guidance was subsequently amended, including the Working Safely guidance.The Government’s Working Safely guidance continues to require organisations to carry out a risk assessment which includes the risk from COVID-19. It also sets out additional actions organisations can take to protect employees and customers in the workplace, such as ensuring adequate ventilation, frequent cleaning, asking people to wash their hands frequently and asking people with COVID-19 to stay away. The guidance advises that people continue to wear face coverings in crowded and enclosed settings where they come into contact with people they do not normally meet, when rates of transmission are high. Civil Service employers will continue to follow this guidance and align their policies accordingly.Home Office staff conducts a wide range of roles requiring varying levels of attendance at the workplace. Our hybrid working model means that all staff, whose role permits, have the ability to work from home for a proportion of their working hours.

Police: Road Traffic Control

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 7 March (HL6233),what is the reason for the decline in the number of roads policing officers; and whether this was due to (1) the trends in road accident figures, or (2) representations of organisations promoting road safety.

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 7 March (HL6233),whether they have considered any studies of the deployment of roads policing officers that assesses the time spent (1) attending accidents, and (2) preparing court papers, against the time spent on patrols aimed at deterring unacceptable behaviour on the road network.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Decisions regarding the number of road policing officers and how they are deployed are a matter for Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables.They are best placed to understand how to deal with all the issues for which the force is responsible, taking into account any specific local problems and demands.

Visas: Ukraine

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many visa applications they have received under the Ukraine Family Scheme to date; and how many visas have been granted.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: General information on the number of applications currently being processed under the newly launched Ukraine Family Scheme can be found in our published data on the GOV.UK webpage Ukraine Family Scheme: application data 23 March 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Refugees: Afghanistan

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many immigrants to the UK from Afghanistan are still living in hotels awaiting resettlement; and how long have they been waiting.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: There are currently 12,000 in bridging accommodation. This cohort is made up of British and Afghan nationals who may be eligible for Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS)The UK Government undertook the biggest and fastest emergency evacuation in recent history, helping over 15,000 people to safety from Afghanistan.We do not want to keep people in temporary accommodation for any longer than is absolutely necessary and we have moved – or are in the process of moving - over 6,000 people into homes since June 2021.Finding suitable homes for this number of people is a significant challenge. The length of time a family will remain in bridging hotels is dependent on a number of factors including the availability of appropriate housing.We are working at pace across government and with over three hundred Local Authority partners to move Afghan evacuees into permanent homes as soon as possible so they can settle and rebuild their lives.

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Balfe: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they require biometric data from people seeking refugee status having fled from Ukraine; what assessment they have made of decision by the government of the Republic of Ireland not torequire biometric information from such refugees; and what plans they have to review the Common Travel Area in response to this different approach.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Secretary updated Parliament on 10 March about the government's support for people fleeing Ukraine.https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretary-update-on-support-for-ukrainiansThe UK Government is firmly committed to maintaining the Common Travel Area arrangement for UK and Irish citizens. There is a high level of cooperation on border security between both the UK and Irish Governments to ensure all the necessary measures to protect and secure the Common Travel Area are being taken.

Asylum: Visas

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a person may be granted a visa that cannot be cancelledfor the purpose of comingto the UK to apply for asylum; and if so, in which paragraph of the Immigration Rules this provision is made.

Baroness Hamwee: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a person who is not present in the UK may make a claim for asylum before travelling to the UK; and if so, where in the (1) Immigration Rules, or (2) immigration policy, such provision is made.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: While we sympathise with the many millions of people facing difficult situations around the world, there are no plans to introduce a provision in the Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to claim asylum.Our current policy is clear we will not consider asylum claims made abroad and there is no provision in the Immigration Rules for someone to be allowed to travel to the UK to claim asylum.We already welcome vulnerable people in need of protection to the UK through our resettlement schemes and are standing up specific new migration routes in response to the situation in Ukraine. These schemes have provided safe and legal routes for tens of thousands of people to start new lives in the UK. The UK has a proud record of providing protection for people who need it, in accordance with our obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights and will continue this record.

Refugees: Ukraine

Lord Wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of France regarding refugees from Ukraine who wish to enter the UK but have been prevented from moving from Calais to the UK by immigration officials.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK Government maintains regular contact with the Government of France at ministerial and official level. The Home Secretary is in regular contact with the French Interior Minister Darmanin she spoke to him recently to discuss the situation in Ukraine and the support the UK is offering to those fleeing the conflict. We have established a temporary Visa Application Centre in northern France, to support vulnerable people who arrive in Calais without a visa. These people will be referred by Border Force to this new site for support.

Cabinet Office

Kate Josephs: Correspondence

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have had any correspondence with Ms Kate Josephs, former Director General of the Covid Task Force, since she leftrole, regarding the Cabinet Office leaving party she attended on 17 December 2020; and if so, on what dates thiscorrespondence took place.

Lord Scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have had any communication about Ms Kate Josephs, former Director General of the Covid Task Force, since she left that role, regarding the Cabinet Office leaving party she attended on 17 December 2020 with (1) Sheffield City Council, or (2) Ms Josephs; and on what dates any such communications took place.

Lord True: I refer the Hon. Member to the Cabinet Office update from the Second Permanent Secretary which has been published on GOV.UK and placed in the Library of the House. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment further while the Metropolitan Police Service’s investigation is ongoing. At the end of the process, the Prime Minister will ask the Second Permanent Secretary to update her findings, which will be published in line with the Terms of Reference.

Veterans: Research

Lord Browne of Belmont: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether research undertaken by the US Department of Veterans Affairs could help shape policy in relation to veterans’ affairs in the UK.

Lord True: The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) has established links with the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and engages through the Five Eyes research network. The Minister for Defence, People and Veterans visited the US in November 2021 where the VA showcased their work, providing an opportunity for the US and UK to learn from each other. The OVA works closely with academic partners from across the UK, and we are often exposed to research based on US data and analysis. We aim to publish a Data and Research strategy plan later this year, which will include appropriate reference to learning from research conducted in the UK and overseas.

Treasury

Child Benefit

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Office of Tax SimplificationOTS evaluation note:Update on OTS work on the High Income Child Benefit Charge and its wider implications, published on 1 March; and in particular, (1) the criticisms of the progress on recommendations made to improve the working of the high income child benefit charge, and (2) the further recommendations contained in that report.

Baroness Penn: The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) ensures that support for families is targeted at those who need it most. The Government is grateful to the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) for their suggestions for how the individual’s experience of child benefit and HICBC could be improved. The OTS acknowledge that HMRC has made progress following their “Simplifying everyday tax for smaller businesses” and “Life events review: simplifying tax for individuals” reports from 2019, including by improving the child benefit form to ensure that it is clear that the form should be completed, even where the parents may wish to opt out of getting child benefit payments. HMRC has also undertaken customer research to explore child benefit claimants’ understanding of HICBC, benefits of claiming and the reasons why some do not make a claim. HMRC has also taken considerable steps to raise awareness of HICBC. It currently shares information via social media, through third parties such as websites aimed at parents or families, and on GOV.UK. HMRC also writes to around 70,000 customers each year to remind them what they need to do to pay HICBC. The OTS’ findings will continue to inform HMRC’s ongoing work.

Economic Situation: Equality

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to help reduce economic inequality.

Baroness Penn: Work is the best route out of poverty and that is why the government is investing more than £6 billion in DWP labour market support over the next three years to help people move into, and progress in work. This builds on the success of the Plan for Jobs, with over 2 million fewer people expected to be unemployed than previously thought. Distributional analysis published at Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 shows that in 2024-25, tax, welfare and spending decisions made since Spending Round 2019 will have benefitted the poorest households most, as a percentage of income. The analysis also shows that in 2024-25, the poorest 60% of households will receive more in public spending than they contribute in tax.

Car Allowances

Lord Colgrain: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the 45p per mile fuel allowance for cars and vans should be increased due to (1) the length of time it has remained unchanged, and (2) the increased cost of fuel.

Baroness Penn: The Government sets the Approved Mileage Allowance Payments (AMAPs) rates to minimise administrative burdens. Employers are not required to use the AMAPs rates. Instead, they can agree to reimburse the actual cost incurred, where individuals can provide evidence of the expenditure, without an Income Tax or National Insurance charge arising. Alternatively, they can choose to pay a different mileage rate that better reflects their employees’ circumstances. However, if the payment exceeds the amount due under AMAPs, and this results in a profit for the individual, they will be liable to pay Income Tax and National Insurance contributions on the difference. The Government keeps this policy under review.

Women and Equalities

Gender Recognition: Equality

Lord Cashman: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation toimplement reforms in England and Wales similar to those proposed in the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill to ensure the equal treatment of transgender people across Great Britain; and, if so, when.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Government held a public consultation on the Gender Recognition Act 2004 in 2018, which we responded to in 2020. We carefully considered the responses to the consultation and concluded that the balance struck in the legislation is correct. There are proper checks and balances in the system for people who want to change their legal sex and we have no intention of changing the current legislative requirements.We are progressing in our commitment, announced at the same time in 2020, to make the gender recognition process more straightforward and accessible. That is why we have already reduced the fee to £5 and are digitising the application process to make it more accessible and easier to navigate. As the Minister for Equalities recently announced, we will also be removing, via a remedial order, the term ‘disorder’ from the definition of gender dysphoria in the 2004 Act.